Psycho-educational and psycho-social treatments in dementia

Abstract

The implementation of psycho-educational and psycho-social treatments for patients with dementia in the ASL CN2 highlights the importance of these approaches as a complement to pharmacological therapies. The article reports the activation of four main protocols in 2023: (1) cognitive stimulation and reminiscence therapy, (2) individual and group psychological support for patients, (3) psycho-educational treatments for caregivers, and (4) supervised physical activity. The protocols involved 72 patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate neurocognitive disorder, 62.5% of whom were female and 37.5% male, with an average age of 76.2 years. The interventions, which included the use of digital platforms for cognitive stimulation and psychological support, resulted in the stabilization of the cognitive condition in 75% of patients and an improvement in quality of life in 70% of cases. For caregivers, an 80% reduction in stress was observed, along with high satisfaction with the interventions. The article concludes that psychosocial interventions can significantly contribute to maintaining cognitive function and autonomy, as well as improving psychological well-being and quality of life for both patients and their families, delaying institutionalization and enhancing disease management.